AN abandoned iron railway bridge is to be brought back into use for walkers, cyclists and horse riders as an alternative to a busy road bridge.

Green transport charity Sustrans has plans to upgrade the old bridge across the River Swale, in Brompton on Swale, to form part of its national cycle network.

Sustrans has made an agreement with Yorkshire Water, whose pipes currently run through the skeleton structure, to upgrade the bridge as an alternative to Catterick Bridge.

Coun Frank Broughton, from Brompton on Swale Parish Council, said: "We are absolutely delighted that Sustrans has been able to arrange the lease with Yorkshire Water.

"We now have an excellent opportunity to deliver a vital new link in the expanding network of safe bridle paths in our part of North Yorkshire."

Other partners involved in the bridge project include North Yorkshire County Council, Richmondshire District Council, the Richmond Swale Valley Community Initiative, Swaledale Outdoor Club and the British Horse Society.

Claire Wright, scheme manager for Sustrans, said: "This project has been driven by the hard work of members of the local community and the parish council, and so we’re delighted to have been able to secure the lease on the bridge, which is an important step forward in delivering this project. "When complete, the new routes will allow local people to make so many more of their local journeys easily and safely on foot or by bike."

The scheme is part of a national project to extend Sustrans’ National Cycle Network into communities across the UK. Sustrans was awarded £50million from the Big Lottery Fund following a public vote in 2007, and some of this money is being used in Brompton-on-Swale.